Quick-make and quick-break switch



June 17, 1930. c. w GQRMAN 1,763,962

I QUICK MAKE AND QUICK BREAK SWITCH Filed April 1928' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 in W 45 I /5 7'5 7 5 ia r1937 flormaya,

am 27 v June 17, 1930. 3, w GORMAN 1,763,962

QUICK MAKE AND QUICK BREAK SWITCH FiledApril 2 192a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 17, 1930 warren srrss CHARLES W. GORMAN, OF MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA QUICK-MAKE AND QUICK-BREAK SWITCH Application filed April 2,

The inventon relates generally to electrical switches and has reference more particularly to quick-make and quick-breakswitches. The present disclosure of the switch is primarily a quick-acting reversing switch for 'spri device to function as soon as the above-named position is reached, for the purpose of rapidly completing the movement of the switch. a

In carrying out the above end, further objects are to provide an actuator of unique and advantageous form, co-opera-ble with a traveling member by means of which it is moved past the above-named predetermined position, and to pro ide a novel lost motion connection between the actuator and the movable switch member or members.

Yet another aim is to mark provision whereby the switch may be adjusted longitudinally of the path of the above-named traveling member, to be tripped sooner or later thereby, as circumstances may demand;

\Vith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the switch showing the traveling member in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts snown in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line l-1 of Fig. 1.

1928. Serial No. 266,842.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line of Fig. 3.

Fig. is a disassembled perspective view showing a number of the switchparts separated from each other; i

The drawings above briefly described, illustrate the preferred form of construction and while this construction will be herein specifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations maybe made.

The switch embodies a rigid body 7 consisting primarily of a horizontal base 8 and a vertical wall 9 rising from one edge thereof, said wall being preferably of substantially triangular form, as shown. Secured upon the base 8 is an insulating base 10 provided with contacts 11 for co-operation with switch blades 12, these blades being pivotally mounted at 13, upon the base 1 The axis of the pivots 13 is transverse to the wall 9.

The upper edges of the blades 12 are provided with lateral lugs 14 to whichthe shank 15 of a T-shaped insulator 16, is secured bv suitable fasteners 17. The head 18 of this insulator is provided with lugs 19 spa apart and projecting outwardly beyond wall 9. v l

A Y-shaped actuator 20 is pivoted at 21.. at the outer side of the wall 9, the pivotal axis of said actuator being near the 'up'ier end of its shank and being disposed parallel with the pivotal axis of the blades 12. The arms 22 of this actuator are disposed in a plane at right angles to the axis of the pivot 21 and constitute spaced operating portions forsaid actuator. Connected with the lower end of'the actuator 20, is a compression spring device 23 which functions, after said actuator has been forced slightly past dead center in either direction, to rapidly complete the movement of said member in said direction. The portion of the actuator inn mediately above the pivot 21, is movable between the lugs 19 of the insulator 16 and when the switch is in one position or the other, one of these lugs is'substantiallv in contact with one of the arms 22 as seen in Fig. 1. Hence, movement of the actuator the toward its opposite position, causes this arm and lug to co-operate 1n initially starting the switch blades from one posltion or the other.

Before they either clear the contacts with which they are engaged however, or come in contact with the other contacts, the spring tion or the other, by stop lugs 24 formed in-' tegrally with the outer side of the wall 9, but

when said actuator is arrested by one or the other of these lugs, the. switch blades and the insulator 16 have such momentum that they continue totravel until they move to their final positions.

The spring device 23, in the present disclosure, embodies a rod 25 pivoted at 26 to the lower end of the actuator 20, and a coiled spring surrounding this rod. The lower end ot' the rod passes through an aperture in a lateral ledge 27 formed on the wall 9, and the spring re-acts against this ledge.

Mounted for movement in either of the directions in which the actuator 20 is movable, is a traveling member 28 which is preferably operated by a screw 29, which screw may be driven by any preferred means, such as that shown in my co-pending U. S. ap plication Serial No. 266,841, filed April 2, 1928. This co-pendingapplication embodies the switch means of the present application as an element of a novel assemblage of parts,

, but said co-pending application does not claim the switch construction, per se.'

The traveling member 28 is provided with a lateral thrust pin or other device 30 for engagement with one of the arms 22 when said member travels in one direction and for engagement with the other of said arms, when said member travels in the reverse direction. When one of these arms 22 is in the path .of the member 80, the other is out of said path as clearly shown in Figs 1.

It is often advisable .to adjust the body 7 and parts carried thereby, longitudinally of the path ofmovement of the traveling mem-v ber 28, so that the time at which the switch To accomplish this, the base 8 rests on an appropriate support 31 having a slot 32, and clamping studs 33 on said base, pass through saidslot,

their lower ends being provided with nuts 34.- Loosening of these nuts, permits adjustment of the body 7 and the parts carried thereby, to the desired position, and tightening of said nuts then locks said parts in this position.

Excellent results have been obtained in actual practice, from the specific details herein disclosed. They are therefore preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed numerous modificatihns may be made.

1. A quick-make and quick-break switch comprising a base, a wall rising rigidly from said base, a movable switch member at the inner side of said wall pivotally mounted on an axis transverse thereto, said switch member having spaced lateral lugs projecting beyond the outer sideof said wall, an actuator at said outer side of said wall and pivoted to the latter on an axis extending in the same direction as the pivotal axis of said switch member, said actuator being movable between said lugs, a spring device operatively connected with. said actuator for rapidly moving the latter in either direction when forced past a dead-center position, a a means for so forcing said actuator, and stops for said actuator. V

2. A quick-make and quick-break switch compris ng a base, a wall risingerigidly from said base, a movable switch member at,

the inner side of said .wall and pivotally mounted on said base on an axis transverse. to said wall, said switch member having spaced lateral lugs projecting beyond the outer side of said wall, an. actuator at said outer side of said wall and pivoted to the latter on an axis extending in the same direction as the pivotal axis of said switch member, said actuator being movable between said lugs, a lateral ledge on the outer side of said wall below the actuatoiy'a spring device interposed between said ledge and said actuator for rapidly moving the latter in either direction when forced past a dead center position, meansfor so forcing said actuator, and stops for said actuator projecting outwardly from said wall.

3. A switch comprising a base, a wall rising rigidly from said base, switch blades pivotally mounted'on said base at the inner side of said Wall, said blades being parallel with said wall, a T-shaped insulator whose shank extendstransversely of and is secured to the upper edges of said blades, the head of said insulator being provided with spaced lugs projecting beyond the outer side of the wall, an actuator pivoted to said wall at the outer side of the latter and movable between said lugs, and operating means for saidactuator.

4. A switch comprising a base, switch blades pivotally mounted on said base coaxially, a T-shaped insulator whose shank extends transversely of and is secured to the upper edges of said blades, the head of said insulator being provided with spaced outwardly projecting lugs, an actuator movable between said lugs, and operating means for said actuator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

CHARLES W. GORMAN.

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